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Deadly Maryland shooting connected to fight over neighborhood parking

Investigators say Smith retrieved a rifle and began shooting out the front window of his home at people trying to help the two men he had shot.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Three people were killed and three wounded in a shooting Sunday night at a house in Maryland's capital city, police said.

Annapolis Police say a 43-year-old man has been charged in connection to the shooting. The man was identified as Charles Robert Smith. 

Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson said Smith lives in the area. He was charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of attempted murder as well as firearm charges. Smith is being held without bond.

Chief Jackson told reporters at a media briefing that the shooting stemmed from what he described as an “interpersonal dispute” and that there was no further threat to the public.

“It’s a very active and fluid investigation," Jackson said. "We’re still trying to determine everything that occurred. We’re still piecing it together. We have a lot more work to do." 

The three people killed have been identified as Marlo Antonio Mireles Ruiz, 27, his 55-year-old father Nicholas Mireles and 25-year-old Christian Marlon Segovia. All three men were found dead in the yard. Those who were hospitalized in the shooting were in stable condition Monday, according to Jackson.

The charging documents paint a picture of what investigators believe happened that night, saying there was a large party happening at the home and many cars were parked along the street. 

Police were called to a home in the 1000 block of Paddington Place just before 8 p.m. Charging documents claim Smith was at the front door with his hands up when officers arrived and reportedly claimed he shot the people because they shot at his house.

Detectives say a City of Annapolis Parking Enforcement employee had received a parking complaint in the area prior to the shooting. The employee said the complaint was filed by Smith's mother, saying a vehicle was blocking their driveway. 

Investigators spoke with witnesses, who reportedly said Mario Mireles tried to speak with a person, whose name was redacted in the court documents, about the parking issue when Smith returned home and confronted Mario Mireles. The two allegedly got into an argument that turned physical. Charging documents claim that Smith took out a gun and the two fought over it. During the tussle over the gun, Smith is accused of shooting Mario Mireles and Segovia. 

"Smith then stood over Mario Mireles and shot him several more times," the charging document reads. 

Following the shooting, several people attending the party come to see what happened. When they noticed Mario Mireles on the ground, they attempted to help him. 

Investigators claim Smith retreated back to his home, retrieved a rifle and began shooting out the front window of his home at people trying to help the two men he had shot. That is when he is accused of shooting four other people, killing Nicolas Mireles as he was trying to help his son. 

In a press conference Monday afternoon, Jackson reiterated that there is still a lot of work to do when it comes to investigating this case, and whether Smith would face hate crime charges would be determined by the attorney general's office. The FBI and ATF have been looped into the investigation as well. 

Jackson also said two weapons were recovered at the scene. Those weapons were only described as a semi-automatic handgun and a long gun. The chief would not comment on whether there was an exchange of gunfire at the shooting scene.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore was at Monday's press conference to thank the first responders and investigators working to solve the case.

"The Annapolis community has our full support in this dark hour," Moore said. "For all Marylanders, I know that many people may be feeling numb right now ... We cannot allow that numbness to take hold. We will refuse to be apathetic in the face of horror." 

Moore called for action to be taken in the face of another mass shooting.

"This pain comes with a sense of purpose," the governor said. "We refuse to give thoughts and prayers because that is simply not enough."  

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